Chicago Tribune sports columnist Steve Rosenbloom reacts to Tiger Woods' statement at a press conference before the start of the PGA Tournament, the final major this year, at the Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York.

Chicago Tribune sports columnist Steve Rosenbloom reacts to Tiger Woods' statement at a press conference before the start of the PGA Tournament, the final major this year, at the Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York.

Tiger Woods hadn’t teed off in the PGA Championship yet, and he sounded like he already had lost it.

Woods built his schedule around majors. Woods built his career around catching Jack Nicklaus. Eighteen majors. The Holy Grail. Fore!

That’s what made Woods so great, to put the word in its proper context. He was all about winning the big ones. He was only about winning the big ones. He would not be intimidated. He would, instead, intimidate. He would hunt down golf’s version of 755 home runs.

Woods did it respectfully. There was no brashness, other than the way he destroyed some legendary courses. He aimed for the top, and immediately, there he was, running down Nicklaus, racking up the “Tiger Slam,’’ greatness meeting its destiny.

Then it stopped. Then it got messy. And now Woods seems to be trying to justify what will be five-plus years without advancing on his raison d’etre if he fails, and this was before the PGA even started.

It sounds like Woods is trying to justify choking in a couple majors this year. It sounds like Woods is offering a pre-emptive excuse for choking in this one.

I hope that’s not the case. He’s great drama and golf is brilliant when he wins. But if you sound like you’re prepared to lose, then you’ve already lost.